Heifer International

Heifer International Group helps families overcome poverty and hunger by “teaching them to fish”

Editor Elizabeth Herzing interviews Jen Girten, manager of education program development at Heifer International, about the organization’s mission to combat world hunger and poverty. They believe gifts of training and livestock can help families turn hunger and poverty into an opportunity of hope and prosperity.

q. How did Heifer International get started?

a. Heifer International was founded more than seventy years ago by Dan West, an American farmer and aid worker during the Spanish Civil War. Each day he handed out cups of milk to weary refugees—mostly children. And then he thought: What if they had not a cup, but a cow? The “teach a man to fish” philosophy continues to inspire our work to put a definitive end to world hunger and poverty. Animal gifts provide partners with food and a reliable source of income, while agricultural products such as milk, eggs, and honey provide a commodity for trade. At the core of our model is Passing on the Gift®, which encourages families to pass on the first female offspring of their gifted livestock to another family in need. This act extends the impact of the original gift and transforms a once-struggling family into an active participant in improving their community—the gift that keeps on giving.

Elizabeth Herzing is Editor and Circulation Manager for Liguorian. Ms. Herzing (known simply as “Liz” around the office) has a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with emphasis in journalism. In a previous life, she worked on the other side of the desk as a reporter for the Belleville News Democrat and Ladue News (a society magazine). She also has freelance experience as a copy writer/editor. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and jewelry making.